Which practice can help prevent structural fatigue?

Preventing structural fatigue is critical in aerospace materials and applications because structural fatigue can lead to cracking and ultimately failure of components. One effective practice in this regard is to avoid dropping tools or bumping stands. These actions can introduce unexpected impacts or stresses to the structure, potentially causing micro-cracks or initiating fatigue in the material due to localized high stress conditions.

When tools are dropped or stands are bumped, they can generate shock loads that exceed the material's fatigue limit, promoting crack initiation and growth. By taking care to handle tools and equipment properly, the risk of these damaging impacts is minimized, contributing to longer lifespan and enhanced reliability of the structural components.

In contrast, the other options do not effectively prevent structural fatigue. Using thicker materials indiscriminately may not be beneficial because increased weight can lead to other issues like handling and performance inefficiencies without addressing the root cause of fatigue. Ignoring surface treatments can leave materials vulnerable to corrosion and wear, which can substantially reduce their fatigue resistance. Lastly, increasing joint stress concentrations is counterproductive, as higher stress concentrations are a known factor in accelerating fatigue failure. Thus, avoiding impacts and maintaining careful handling practices are essential to prolonging structural integrity and performance.